Vidya Balan says no to Rajnikanth?

Balan confirms she couldn’t accept the role in south star’s upcoming Rana because the filmmakers wouldn’t share the script with her. The actor was selected for her desi looks which would click with south Indian audiences too.

Vidya Balan has officially turned down a chance to star opposite south star Rajinikanth. Earlier this year, it was suggested that she was to be his leading lady in Rana, since her distinctly desi looks would click with south Indian audiences too.

Later, rumour mills were abuzz that Vidya had raised issues because she was not being given the script. Now for the first time, Vidya goes on record to say that the script had played spoilsport.

“Rana makers spoke to me about the film, but I wasn’t exactly in serious talks. Later, I asked for a script, which I didn’t get,” says Vidya with a smile.

So, did they want her to sign on for the film sans a script? “I don’t know what to say and how to explain it. They just didn’t call me back. And how can I take the next step without a script?” questions the actor.

Ravikumar, on his part, contends that they were in talks with several female leads, and not just Vidya. “Yes, Vidya was also contacted. But since our script wasn’t ready by then, we couldn’t hand it over to her. And by the time the story was locked, it had gone onto a completely different tangent. So, there was no point in sending the script to her,” says Ravikumar.

At the moment, Rajni’s Rana is on hold until he finishes off daughter Soundarya’s 3D film, Kochadaiyaan.

"Once it’s over, he will start with Rana. He is keen to go ahead with the film, but we want him to take complete rest," says Ravikumar, adding that the project might begin by mid-next year. Rajni had fallen ill in April, during the first schedule of Rana, which also stars Deepika Padukone. Later, he flew to Singapore for a month and a half.

Due to his poor health, the dates for Rana are being constantly pushed, despite Rajni returning to India in July. Doctors and family members have asked him to wait till his health gets better, before he resumes his packed shooting schedule.

As for Vidya, The Dirty Picture star is now gearing up for Sujoy Ghosh’s Kahani. "It’s my little baby and I am going to deliver it on March 9," she says with a laugh.

"It’s an interesting thriller because it’s rare to have a woman as the central protagonist," she adds.